Sioux Falls Christian claimed their second straight state boys ‘A’ soccer championship on Saturday at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls with a 3-2 victory over Tea Area.
The game was scoreless through the first half, but both teams turned up the intensity in the second. Ashdan Farrell of Tea Area scored within the first minute of the second half, but Sioux Falls Christian tied it and then took the lead with goals from Tyson Reitsma (Penalty Kick) and Emerson Brazones near the 20-minute mark of regulation.
Reitsma would score again for the Chargers with 13-minutes to play, which gave Sioux Falls Christian a 3-1 lead, but Ean Minnaert of Tea Area then shrunk the deficit with a goal at just under eight-minutes left. The Titans had a few more close calls and opportunities to tie the game late but were unsuccessful.
“It’s just our attitude and we have this thing when we play Tea, that it’s a lot of mental stuff that we need to work on. I think it was a good thing to go from behind,” explained Sioux Falls Christian head boys’ soccer coach Ephron Poyer. “Our heads did drop a little, but usually on the sideline I’m encouraging them and reminding them of things we’ve talked about. And so, I think it showed our character to come from behind and to win in the way that we did.”
This is the fourth straight year that Sioux Falls Christian and Tea Area have met each other in the state championship match. The Titans won the first two, but now the Chargers have won the past two. With as close as the two programs are, and with how close they typically play each other, coach Poyer called it somewhat of a brotherhood between the two teams.
“They won the first two and so it’s kind of like we’ve evened it out, so it’s like one brother doesn’t have the rights over the other one. It’s like, oh, we’re even,” Poyer joked.
Tyson Reitsma’s two goals in the match earned him 'offensive player of the match' honors.
“It feels different that we’re on top for the second year in a row. I’m just thankful that God gave us this opportunity to come out here and play against a great team. I’m just so proud of all my teammates,” Reitsma said. “Five goals in this game, and it’s a lot of fun – just great to be out here.”
Not just five goals in a game, but five goals in just the second half. Both teams clearly had more intensity coming out after halftime.
“We came out pressing after their first goal. We were down and came back. We were ready to go, man,” stated Reitsma. “It was great to see us come back after 1-0. It’s just fun. I’m just happy to be here.”
Tea Area and Sioux Falls Christian met a month ago in mid-September during the regular season as well. The Chargers won that contest 1-0.
Sioux Falls Christian finishes the 2021 season with a perfect 14-0 record. It’s their fourth sanctioned state boys soccer championship in program history.
